Power Read online

  There’s nothing sexier than a successful man—except maybe the passionate beast living inside him.

  Jagger and Ariela were childhood sweethearts, and through the years, their fated love has deepened. When another shifter shows Ariela some attention, Ariela is awestruck, but confused. How can she find another lion-shifter attractive when she’s already mated to the man of her dreams?

  A lioness shifter, Ariela experiences inconvenient breeding bouts. Ariela’s lioness heat ignites her sexual prowess and Jagger realizes it will take more than one male to keep her satisfied. When Jagger discovers Leon, a shifter-wizard and old family friend, is interested in Ariela, he isn’t threatened. In fact, Jagger quickly suspects Leon is Ariela’s mate, too.

  A great love is put to the test as Jagger throws himself into his work at Pride’s Las Vegas Casino and the casino’s latest production, Rise to Power: Search for Pride. But when Jagger’s assistant catches Ariela and another man in a compromising situation, she sees an advantageous power play and makes her demands. Jagger and Leon must work together to figure out how to save Jagger’s professional reputation and protect their shared mate, the woman they both love.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Power

  Copyright © 2014 Destiny Blaine

  ISBN: 978-1-77111-863-7

  Cover art by Martine Jardin

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by eXtasy Books

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  Power

  Rise to Power: Search for Pride

  By

  Destiny Blaine

  Dedication

  To Selena Cooper

  Chapter One

  “Come back to bed,” Ariela purred. She tucked her knees to her chest and curled up on her side, drawing the soft down pillow against her.

  As the fog lifted and announced the new day, she gazed at the breathtaking Mojave Desert. She longed to stretch her feline legs and run through the massive natural boulders known as Red Rock Canyon.

  “Good morning, kitten,” Jagger said, strolling to her bedside. “Did you sleep well?”

  “I did.” She moistened her lips and stared at his crotch.

  Jagger laughed and knelt next to her. He left a kiss on her cheek, and pointed at a cup of coffee on the nearby nightstand. “Somebody needs an extra shot of caffeine.”

  He then took a seat across from her. Lounging on the burgundy settee in front of the bay window, he studied her, fixating on her chest when she came to a half-seated position.

  Reaching for her coffee cup, Ariela felt the lazy droop of her eyelids and inhaled deeply, savoring the rich exotic blended aroma with its hint of coconut and hazelnut. Beyond the window, the heavy mist disintegrated with the rise of morning’s sun, and Ariela easily admired the expansive views of the awe-inspiring Valley of Fire, the oldest state park in Nevada. Enriched by a multitude of sandy red hues and the picturesque bedrock, the landscape appeared well guarded by large stone walls resembling intimidating giants.

  “I know that look,” Jagger said, tilting his head at her full breasts, now heavier under his scrutiny.

  Tight spirals of black curls framed his face. He ran his hand across the top of his head, pulling a few stray ringlets away from his cheeks. “You need a day off. I need to take you for a run. That desire will only intensify in the coming days.”

  “I can take care of myself,” she whispered, a deliberate hint of seduction in her voice.

  “It isn’t safe for you to be out there alone.” Jagger’s head bobbed back when he indicated the out there in question, a glorious stretch of desert that lay between their home in the hills and the gateway to Sin City, the narrow highway that inevitably led gamblers to their predetermined fates.

  Ariela blinked, still focused on the radiant views calling out to her like a small child might beckon her mother, tugging and pleading for attention. She took another sip of the hot brew and deliberately avoided staring at Jagger’s free hand, the one brushing against the khaki-clad erection tenting his slacks. “I think you should stay home today.”

  A soft grunt fell from his lips and he stroked the length of his penis.

  “Don’t you?” She couldn’t resist the temptation. Ariela rolled to her back, and a sensual moan tumbled from her lips. Realizing her vocal expression would only summon her mate, she tossed away the sheet partially covering her and moistened her index finger. Splaying her legs, she reached for her clit and smiled back at him. “I’d have a better time if you stayed here with me.”

  Jagger’s dark hooded gaze followed the circular motion of her hand. “I don’t doubt that for a second.”

  “Do you have somewhere else you’d rather be?” she asked. Dipping her fingers, she snapped her legs closed and trapped her arm between her thighs.

  A guttural growl filled the room. As Jagger rose, her body tingled. This was the man she’d called out, the male she’d wanted rising to the fore, eager for the occasion.

  Jagger stalked the bed. He grabbed her ankles and yanked her forward, pulling her hips to the edge of the mattress. “I’m not in any particular hurry.”

  “I can see that.” She trembled all over as he forced her legs apart and knelt in front of her. “When I’m in season, you really should consider calling in sick.”

  “Who would I call? I’m the boss.” He kissed a trail up and down her inner thighs before tossing her legs over his strong shoulders. Situating his large form between her parted knees, he inched closer and lowered his head. Before she could answer, he whispered, “I would stay here all day if I could.”

  “Then stay,” she pleaded, shifting her hips.

  “I want to. Um, yeah, I want to.” A throaty rasp fell from his lungs and he rubbed his tongue across his lips. Wearing a suggestive grin full of appreciation, Jagger pushed three fingers inside her, stirring her arousal as he seemingly admired the way she moved with his hand, pumping her hips to match his thrusts.

  Orchestrated to a fault, he worked with her intimate awakening, using his firm fingers as an erotic weapon. With a scissoring motion, he slowly sliced through her resistance, probing her with stimulating force as he roused the carnal beast living inside her. He provoked the lioness without any problem.

  Her hips blasted off the bed as a mix of heated sensations exploded throughout her body. Agonized by necessity, she tried to shove aside her need for fulfillment, that damning lust propelling through her form and holding her body captive. Lurking in the dark shadows of her womb was a devastating desire, one that would not be sated, could not be quenched.

  The yearning to breed was upon her. The desire to mate was far more complicated than an average woman could even begin to understand.

  Ariela trembled. “Jagger…” Gripping the sheets in tightly drawn fists, she finally managed to breathe his name. A shattering cry fell from her lips as she fough
t the urge to beg for more. She resisted her wantonness, her body’s demand for satisfaction, realizing gratification would be too brief. The mating season was upon her and soon her days and nights would be filled with exhausting sex, her need to fuck overpowering her with a more profound requirement—her urgency for hourly releases.

  “Tell me what will bring you pleasure, kitten,” he crooned, blowing a steady stream of hot air over her tender folds.

  She jerked with the sensation, the sweet whisper of forthcoming promises nearly kicking her over the edge, taking her into the throes of an orgasm, a climax she wanted to keep at bay for as long as possible. There was a reason to postpone the inevitable. Once she bounded over the first orgasm, her libido would kick into overdrive and require ongoing attention.

  Jagger tucked his hands under her bottom and lifted her to him. He supported her lower body while his tongue divided her folds. He sipped and licked, filling her pussy with wave upon wave of fluttering ecstasy.

  “Mmm,” she hummed. She grabbed a handful of Jagger’s hair and pulled him tightly against her, enjoying the vibrations in her flesh as he moaned against her opening.

  She tugged harder and twirled those fine locks around her fingers. Securing a tight grip, she pulled his hair again, maintaining a strong hold on his head and savoring—oh God, yes, how she delighted in—the barely audible grunts orchestrating an ensemble of tremors destined to hold her hostage.

  Her cunt quivered with the turbulent and unpredictable disruption. She flattened her feet on the mattress and threw her lower half forward, clenching around Jagger’s long tongue as he drove inside her again.

  “Ah, Jagger,” she whispered, propelling one arm behind her and rising to him, pushing her mound against his lips before collapsing on the bed. Oh God, she was on fire! Her cunt throbbed with an agonizing burn, one for which there wasn’t a surefire cure, a way to cool the flames or contain the heat. “I can’t take this.”

  “Keep fighting it, baby. Learn how to control your desires.” He greedily sipped at her folds, licking her pussy with fervor.

  Jagger was driving her mad with purpose, trying to make her crazy with lust.

  He sucked her tingling intimate lips. Pulling the sensitive skin deep inside his mouth, he moved his head from side to side. She rose to a seated position, forcing him into an awkward position.

  His dark gaze held hers in challenge and he watched her carefully as he manipulated and massaged her pussy. He used his tongue like a weapon again, stabbing at her center with forceful penetration and twisting the flesh around and around. He went for the heart of her desire, the core of her womanly existence, no doubt gauging the perfect time to impale her.

  Bracing for personal torment, she fisted the silken sheets, balling the material in her closed hands. Writhing under him, she hooked a leg around his neck and jerked him forward. She seized the opportunity to confine her lover, the mate she needed mounting her, riding her from behind. She longed for him to ease the torturous personal challenges, the uncontrollable cravings to fuck like animals.

  Her most carnal needs had peaked. Her end was near.

  “Now what, baby?” he asked, slapping her mound with several repetitive swats.

  Fire and ice erupted inside her pussy. Her body vibrated under the pressure as the temptation of temporary pleasure threatened to leave her grinding at thin air.

  “Please don’t tease me!”

  “But I’m not in any hurry.” Using his superior strength to break her hold, he unlocked her leg and positioned his face at the apex between her thighs.

  He wiped his chin with the back of his hand, swiping away the transparent film of her excitement. He teased her then with a devilish gaze, one designed to warn her of the excitement to come. His coal-black eyes held hers lovingly as he backed away, leaving her on the bed alone.

  “You might rethink your approach halfway through the mating season,” she said, housing a mix of emotions as she contemplated the next four days. She’d always felt inexplicably bonded to her mate during her season. Still, while the mating season brought with it a sensational intimacy stronger than any other connection she’d known, she was also aware of the unreasonable demands she placed on her lover.

  “You may have a point,” Jagger crooned, unhooking his belt.

  During the breeding bouts, Ariela tested Jagger’s stamina. Even a shapeshifter’s staying power weakened during these trying times.

  “You’ll tire before I do,” she promised him.

  “I don’t know about that.” He contradicted her before rising over her body. “You’ve never offered more than I could handle. Have you, kitten?”

  They both laughed at his response. She wasn’t about to mention his shortcomings in previous mating seasons. All lion shifters had a difficult time matching their mate’s desires during the breeding marathons.

  “You think that’s funny?” He playfully spanked her pussy then, swatting her mound with light and quick smacks until her insides were on fire, spilling with liquid heat.

  Her nipples spiked and his hard erection flexed. His cockhead nudged its way over the top of his boxers before he had the opportunity to strip away the clothing barriers.

  Showcasing cut pecs and a six-pack of abs, Jagger sported a body full of unadulterated bliss. Ariela knew all about those illicit pleasures. She’d taught him. He’d taught her. They’d learned about sex together. They’d been one another’s first and only love.

  “Are you going to fuck me or look at me?”

  “What if I look, but don’t touch?” he asked, a darker tone to his voice. “Could you handle that, Ariela?”

  They both knew she couldn’t. The mating period often presented its share of obstacles for the lion shifters, but the first two days brought forward a sex-fest enjoyed by both partners. In the early hours, Jagger typically went above and beyond a normal man’s limitations, sating her sexual desires, her carnal needs. Day three represented the turning point, when the males couldn’t possibly hope to keep up with a female’s urges. Still, Ariela always gave Jagger an A for effort. He never complained, and he always performed with his mouth when his dick was too spent to reenter the game.

  Moistening her lips, she stared at his long, meaty cock, tempted to wrap her lips around his shaft and just enjoy the pulse of his tempo tapping at her throat, slipping across her tongue. Instead, her own desires drove her. She raked her nails across his thick chest, shot him a wink, and then flipped over on her stomach.

  “You’re such a bad little vixen,” he rasped, a slight hint of disappointment in his voice, after she’d insinuated a blow–job and then bailed on him at the last minute. “I’m feeling neglected.”

  “I’ll remind you of those words in a few days,” she said, rubbing her ass against his groin.

  Jagger clutched her hips and positioned her body in front of his cock. Bone-hard and stretching against her, his penis mashed against her bottom, and its head pulsed with male intentions.

  Ariela watched him in the mirror behind their bed. Her desire stirred as that raw look of appreciation marked its place upon his face. Her pussy clenched as his large hands slid across her bottom. He caressed her globes, giving her a deep tissue massage as he pressed his dick against her ass, nudging her with his moist cockhead.

  Leaning over her body, he nipped at her ear before peppering her neck with quick pecks. The fiery need welling inside her sparked a higher degree of feminine heat. She ground against him and bore down on his cock, pushing her ass against his length and focusing on their mirrored reflections.

  “You like watching me, kitten?”

  “Yes.” She slammed against him again, willing him to penetrate her.

  “How much, baby?”

  “Just fuck me, Jagger,” she mouthed, exasperated. She stretched her neck in an effort to witness the first impalement, wanting to see the swell of his cockhead before he plunged inside her wet walls and stroked away her growing aspirations, those insati
able urges that would imprison her, yet captivate her at the same time.

  “Watch, kitten.” Jagger was one hundred percent all hard male then as he slammed inside her pussy, taking no prisoners, barring no patience. He pumped his cock inside her, screwing her with impetuous strokes.

  The fucking was reckless at the start and he bracketed his arm around her middle, taking a possessive hold as he pounded his cock inside her, long-thrusting her until she cried out in continual pleasure, not at all interested in the explosive end but rather enjoying the friction. His dick thrummed inside her, caressing her tight muscles and ultrasensitive tissues.

  Caught up in the moment, she stopped rocking against him and watched as his upper body stiffened and his hips jerked then stilled.

  “What’s wrong baby?” Sweat peppered his brow. “You okay?”

  “I’m perfect,” she replied, squeezing his cock with conditioned reflexes.

  “Right like that,” he crooned, his face expressing incomparable pleasure. He pulled back and rolled forward, easing his cock inside her before retreating once more.

  “I can’t…hold on…now.”

  “Sure you can, kitten,” he whispered, his hooded eyes telling the tale.

  She could come, and he’d follow right behind her.

  “Ah, Jagger,” she purred, stretching her torso forward. She crouched in front of him, enjoying the onslaught of a graduated fuck as his cock lengthened inside her. He tapped at her cervix, rubbing that special hot G-spot that often brought tears to a woman’s eyes.

  Now he pounded inside her, fucking her deeper than before. “Yes, kitten. Mmm yeah, baby. That’s my girl. Oh God…Ariela. Don’t hold back. Ah, yeah! Come!”

  The fleshy barb extended right under the tip of Jagger’s penis and raked backward, scraping against her channel, and reminding them both of the beasts inside them. He reached around her body, cupping her right breast as he plowed inside her trembling walls. The small extended point under his cockhead paralyzed her as his dick surged forward.